Mockernut Hickory
Scientific Name: Carya tomentosa
— pronounced KAIR-yuh toh-men-TOH-suh
— Carya from Greek káryon, meaning "nut"
— tomentosa from Latin tomentum, meaning "covered with dense, short hairs," referring to the underside of the leaves.
Walnut Family (Juglandaceae), which includes pecans as well as walnuts andhickories
Other Common Names: Big Bud Hickory, White Hickory, Whiteheart Hickory, Hardbark Hickory, Hognut, Bullnut
— pronounced KAIR-yuh toh-men-TOH-suh
— Carya from Greek káryon, meaning "nut"
— tomentosa from Latin tomentum, meaning "covered with dense, short hairs," referring to the underside of the leaves.
Walnut Family (Juglandaceae), which includes pecans as well as walnuts andhickories
Other Common Names: Big Bud Hickory, White Hickory, Whiteheart Hickory, Hardbark Hickory, Hognut, Bullnut
Bark by David Rosher; fruit by Ron Lance, from NameThatPlant
The bark of a mature Mockernut Hickory has round-topped, light-gray ridges and shallow, darker furrows, forming a net-like pattern.
The fruit is 1 1⁄2” to 2” in diameter and has a thick husk (1⁄4”) that splits cleanly to the base. The only other hickory with a thick husk is the Shagbark Hickory, which is easily distinguished by its “shaggy” bark. Mockernut Hickory bark is never shaggy.
The compound leaves are 9 to 14 inches long, with 7 to 9 leaflets. Their upper surface is yellowish green and shiny, the lower surface paler and densely hairy with light orange or brown hairs. Crushed leaves smell spicy, like orange rind.
The bark of a mature Mockernut Hickory has round-topped, light-gray ridges and shallow, darker furrows, forming a net-like pattern.
The fruit is 1 1⁄2” to 2” in diameter and has a thick husk (1⁄4”) that splits cleanly to the base. The only other hickory with a thick husk is the Shagbark Hickory, which is easily distinguished by its “shaggy” bark. Mockernut Hickory bark is never shaggy.
The compound leaves are 9 to 14 inches long, with 7 to 9 leaflets. Their upper surface is yellowish green and shiny, the lower surface paler and densely hairy with light orange or brown hairs. Crushed leaves smell spicy, like orange rind.
Leaf photo is a placeholder by Richard & Teresa Ware, on NameThatPlan; Leaf detail by David Rosher
More photos and information: VA Tech dendrology sheet
In Virginia, North Carolina, and southward to Florida, Mockernut is the most abundant of the hickories. Mockernut hickory is found on a variety of sites, ranging from flood plains to moist coves to well-drained uplands. The Mockernut is common throughout the Preserve.
Interesting Facts:
More photos and information: VA Tech dendrology sheet
In Virginia, North Carolina, and southward to Florida, Mockernut is the most abundant of the hickories. Mockernut hickory is found on a variety of sites, ranging from flood plains to moist coves to well-drained uplands. The Mockernut is common throughout the Preserve.
Interesting Facts:
- Mockernut Hickories are slow-growing and long-lived, sometimes reaching 500 years of age.
- Mockernut Hickories are extremely sensitive to fire because of the low insulating capacity of the bark. They root-sprout prolifically after fire.
- Why "Mockernut"? The nut is sweet but quite small, and it’s enclosed in a thick, hard shell within a fairly thick husk. Humans may feel mocked, but squirrels and other woodland animals feast on the nuts.